Champaign CUSD #4 - Champaign (FY 07)

Grantee: Champaign CUSD #4
Location: Champaign, IL
Name: Novice Teacher Induction for Success
Partners: Center for Cognitive Coaching, Champaign-Ford Regional Office of Education, Illinois New Teacher Collaborative, Karen Peterson of Governors State University

History and Overview:

• The district loses approximately 12 percent of the certified teaching staff annually.

• The district and CFT successfully negotiated and implemented a state-approved Novice Teacher Induction program three years ago. This provided a basic framework from which additional enhancements were added to create the proposed Novice Teacher Induction for Success program.

• The district is under a consent decree which requires a focus on training teachers to teach effectively to a diverse population as well as the hiring and retention of minority teachers.

Program Overview

• The Novice Teacher Induction Program grant will serve first year teachers and their mentors

• Five district mentor coordinator differential positions will be added to coordinate the Novice Teacher Induction for Success program

• A five-day New Teacher Curriculum Academy prior to the start of the school year will be added to provide orientation to curriculum, instructional practice and district culture

• Mentors will complete the district CFT mentor training prior to hire

• Mentors will participate in an eight day seminar on Cognitive Coaching. The eight day session will enhance the mentor's communication skills and ability to encourage reflective conversations

• Novice teachers will attend monthly peer support meetings. Two of these meetings will be facilitated by Karen Peterson of Governors State University and focus on meeting the needs of diverse students

• Mentor teachers will join the novice teachers in four of the above meetings, including the meetings facilitated by Karen Peterson

• Mentor teachers, novice teachers and principals will meet quarterly to collaborate on induction plans

• Mentor teachers and novice teachers will meet at least 16 hours outside of the “regular” school day for collaboration

• Twenty one hours of release time for professional development and / or observation will be provided for each novice teacher mentor teacher team

• Monthly documentation of meeting times and a reflection piece will be required

• Second year teachers will be invited to the monthly meeting

• Second year teachers will be given the opportunity to participate in the ROE E-mentoring program

• Formation of minority teacher retention sub-committee

Program Goals

• Novice teachers will have systemic support

• Collaborative teams will provide support for novice teacher induction plans

• Equity and retention of minority teachers will be a consistent focus

• Second year teachers will have support available through district funds

• Accountability for implementing district Novice Teacher Induction Program will be improved

Program Evaluation

• Evaluation instruments will be developed and will reflect the elements found in the Continuum of Teacher Development. These instruments will:

-Evaluate / rate the effectiveness of novice program by: novice teachers, mentor teachers, second year teachers

- Evaluate / rate the effectiveness of the induction plan by collaborative team

• Additional Data collection on implementation of program design will be collected by:

-Attendance records for monthly meetings

-Monthly calendars reflecting required elements of program design

-Retention of teachers from SY2004 forward

-Retention of minority novice teachers

-Percentage of Teachers from SY2006 and beyond who complete the Novice Teacher Induction Program and are rated satisfactory or excellent

-Number of teachers teaching outside their fields from SY2005 and beyond

Key Contact:

Polly Hill
217-687-5081
hillpo@champaignschools.org